Rephonic
Artwork for The Designated Players

The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast

Andrew Barnikel, Connor Wright
MLS
Major League Soccer
US Open Cup
Jaime Moreno
Carlos Ruiz
Robbie Keane
Joseph Martinez
Sebastian Giovinco
Toronto FC
Houston Dynamo
Landon Donovan
Kei Kamara
Chris Wondolowski
Clint Dempsey
David Beckham
Chicago Fire
Premier League
New England Revolution
Don Garber
USL

We are The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast! Your home for all things MLS, Past Present and Future! Hosted by Andrew Barnikel and Connor Wright

PublishesDailyEpisodes458Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerNewsSportsSports News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Designated Players

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Pathway to Pro, we sit down with RBNY 2 midfielder Paul Sokoloff to chat about his path from the U8 academy all the way to a future HG contract with the first team, his long term goals, favorite memories, and so much more! 

#MLS #... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're catching up on some recent MLS news. This week we're going to be talking about Pat Agyemang's injury that is going to keep him out of the World Cup, followed by ... more

In this episode, MLS History RETURNS! We are diving into a crazy story about the time when the New England Revolution made a player signing from Nigeria, and a different player stepped off the plane!

#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunit... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're back to covering the USMNT, with this segment covering the two last games before Pochettino makes his roster selection. Things did not go well this international... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Timber Joey Webber
Current Timber Joey, long-time mascot and notable figure associated with the log tradition
Portland Timbers
Episode: Episode 452: The Portland Timbers' Log Cutting Tradition! MLS History Retold!
Mike Ace Palane
Mike from Orlando Lions Den, Orlando City coverage
Orlando Lions Den
Episode: Episode 447: Griezmann to MLS, Apple TV Week 1 Numbers and Coaches on the Hot Seat ft Orlando Lions Den!
Bob V
Soccer analyst and podcaster
The Designated Pundits
Episode: Episode 446: The State Of MLS Media with Bob From The Designated Pundits!
Brian Mauer
Content creator and podcaster at Top In 90
Top In 90
Episode: Episode 440: A Not So Deep Dive Into Charlotte FC's 2026 Season ft TopBin90!
Kerry Redman
Member of the New York Red Bulls Discussion Group Podcast and an insightful fan.
New York Red Bulls Discussion Group Podcast
Episode: Episode 436: A Not So Deep Dive Into Red Bull New York's 2026 Season ft NYRBDG Podcast!
Mitchell Carroll
Co-host of Commerce City Radio, soccer analyst
Commerce City Radio
Episode: Episode 433: A Not So Deep Dive Into Colorado Rapids' 2026 Season ft Commerce City Radio!
John Rawlins
Lifelong Orlando City fan and content creator with a YouTube channel
John Rawlins TV
Episode: Episode 426: A Not So Deep Dive Into Orlando City's 2026 Season ft John Rawlins TV!
Jerald Lucas
Sports journalist and co-host of The Wisemen Say Podcast
Babel USA
Episode: Episode 424: A Not So Deep Dive Into Columbus Crew's 2026 Season ft The Wisemen Say Podcast!
Ben Wright
Sports journalist covering Nashville SC and MLS
SixOneFive Soccer
Episode: Episode 420: A Not So Deep Dive Into Nashville SC's 2026 Season ft Ben Wright from SixOneFive Soccer!

Hosts

Andrew Barnikel
Host of The Designated Players, co-host of MLS-focused show, active in MLS discussions and guest coordination.
Connor Wright
Co-host of The Designated Players, engages in tactical discussions and guest integration.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Good pod

    Guys do a good job and are talented at podcasting. However knowledge could be stronger. For example how can you repeatedly call the league MVP “Luchy.” It’s Lucho. And similar mistakes that makes me wonder how much soccer you watch. It’s like having an nba podcast and calling him “dabron james.”

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CompetitivePokemonAllTheWay
    United States2 years ago
  • English

    Please learn how to speak English

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    g3423
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast to get your weekly MLS updates, awesome interview guests from all over the country, and a real fun time overall!

    Podchaser
    5
    Andrew Barnikel
    6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Lively, community-focused discussions that fans find engaging.
Candid host banter is a hallmark, though a few want deeper tactical breakdowns.
English language clarity is variable in parts of episodes.
Occasional inaccuracies in team/player names noted by some listeners.
Insightful MLS analysis with strong guest perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#222
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#115
Chile/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 448: MLS Coaches Continue To Fail In Europe ft Celtic: The Unrestricted View Podcast!
Q: Do you think that the reputation of MLS managers is now going to be limited because of these two coaches who have not been successful?
Yes, it could hurt perceptions in some boards, leading teams to search more broadly and conduct more interviews, but it's not fair to judge all MLS managers by two mid-season failures; there will still be opportunities for others who can adapt and show results.”
Episode 446: The State Of MLS Media with Bob From The Designated Pundits!
Q: What do you think about MLS's current media strategy?
Bob believes that concerns regarding the media shift are somewhat exaggerated, but acknowledges that the loss of long-time contributors is troubling.
Episode 436: A Not So Deep Dive Into Red Bull New York's 2026 Season ft NYRBDG Podcast!
Q: Does the system work right out of the gate?
It's going to be a slow start; they need to work on cohesion.
Episode 436: A Not So Deep Dive Into Red Bull New York's 2026 Season ft NYRBDG Podcast!
Q: What is a big question you have for this group as we get to 2026?
Can they close out games?
Episode 435: A Not So Deep Dive Into Houston Dynamo's 2026 Season ft Bayou City Soccer!
Q: What new players should fans be excited about?
Matthew Bogus and Lucas Halter stand out as promising new additions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Designated Players

What is The Designated Players about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly roundtable focused on MLS, roster moves, parity, media strategy, and upcoming seasons across teams. Episodes often feature insider perspectives from guests affiliated with MLS clubs, media outlets, and fan communities, plus lively debate about league direction, presenting a mix of transfer analysis, tactical takeaways, and media/tech shifts shaping coverage. The show stands out for blending in-depth team previews with broad league context, accessible banter, and guest expertise from a range of MLS markets, making it useful for listeners who want both concrete team-level insights and broader trends in American soccer. Potential listeners may value sharp opinions, practical implications for clubs and sponsors, and a community-driven ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Designated Players. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Designated Players and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Designated Players get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Designated Players, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Designated Players, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Designated Players have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Designated Players has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Designated Players?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Designated Players:

1. MLS Now Podcast
2. Battered Soccer Fans
3. MLS Aces Podcast
4. Soccerwise
5. The Designated Pundits | MLS Analysis, Expert Picks, and Insider Discussions

How many episodes of The Designated Players are there?

The Designated Players launched 6 years ago and published 458 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Designated Players?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Designated Players?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Designated Players from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Designated Players. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Designated Players?

Recent guests on The Designated Players include:

1. Timber Joey Webber
2. Mike Ace Palane
3. Bob V
4. Brian Mauer
5. Kerry Redman
6. Mitchell Carroll
7. John Rawlins
8. Jerald Lucas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days